WoolWeenies Club

[Triskeliongirl]

Well, my kids arrived and my packages arrived........

First surprise was my daughter fell in love with the M hooded shak (her first ibex piece, is this the gateway drug?). Its amazing how the same piece can look so differently on two different bodies. It fit her really well and is very flattering. Everything about it that I disliked she loved. The smile on her face as she slipped her fingers into the the finger thingies I hated, and pulled up the hood.......... Then I had her try my M patagonia down vest that I picked up at 75% off last spring. Bingo, another hit (especially over that hooded shak, warm and stylish!). Looked way better than the large clothes she arrived in (a big puffy fleece and down vest both a size too large for her). This made me feel much better since I didn't like at all how it looked on me but couldn't justify buying myself a different piece since I could wear it if I needed to. I knew it was too big when I bought it, but let the sale thing get to me. But giving her the vest let me justify finally getting myself the down sweater I'd been wanting for the last couple years. I tried it on in a store and it layers beautifully over a shak and under a shell, its very slim fitting and flattering (and its on TE at 33% off right now......). I know some of you think its too much, but it packs so tiny (comes w stuff sack) I think it will be great as an insurance policy, and I know myself well enough to know I'll need it if it drops below 20.

She took off to see some friends before the pants order arrived, so we didn't try those on together yet. But they screwed up the sizing on my order. I ordered the ibex alpstar pant in a 4 and 6, and they sent a 4 and 8. Wouldn't you know the 4 was a tad tight in the hips (could zip but no room for layers) and the 8 was too big. Its a lovely piece, the only one I liked of the 3 styles I ordered, but I am not sure its worth exchanging for the 6 since the waist on the 4 was actually too loose while the rest was a little tight. I am also not sure its worth the $ now that I have the woolie bottoms. It seems to me that I should be OK with the woolies paired with either my wool dress pants for casual/work stuff, or the shebeest windpro tight under my goretex pant for skiing or active stuff. Perhaps if I skiied a lot or lived in a colder place it would be worth it, but maybe its just an item I get only if I can find it very heavily discounted. If they sent the 6 it might have been hard to send back, but they didn't so maybe it just means I am just finished. I am like that, I don't shop for months, and then I realize I need something for a trip and get all focussed on shopping for a little while.

So, unless someone wants to tell me I must re-order the ibex alpstar pant, I am finished shopping!

[Cataboo]

Triskelion - do your alpstars have velcro on the inside of the waist? Mine have an adjustment that you can cinch in the waist on them.

Sorry I led you astray on all the pants!

You should definitely take the down sweater. My current favorites for downs are the mountain hardwear phantom (very lightweight 800 fill), the cloudveil down patrol (windproof down with pitzips), and the mammut pilgrim jacket (hooded downy lusciousness).

[Susan Otcenas]

(and its on TE at 33% off right now......).

Well, technically is 31.4% off. (It's a Pi Sale) Right here: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPA_84626.html

Of particular interest to Wool Weenies are the Ibex items here:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/ibex/pro...roductAge-desc

and the Smartwool items here:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/smartwoo...roductAge-desc

Enjoy!

Susan

[Triskeliongirl]

Actually Susan's link is to the down sweater vest, which she calls an ultralight down vest, but everyone else calls a down sweater vest.

The one I got is this one, the actual down sweater (again TE calls it the ultralight down jacket but every one else calls it a down sweater):
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPA_84681.html

I think Susan did this so people wouldn't confuse them with their heavier down jackets. I tried this item on so many times in a store but couldn't bring myself to spend $200 on it. It is 800 fill down and is amazingly flattering on me (I have a broad back, small waist, and medium hips). It's the best thing I've found to layer over a full zip shak that isn't bulky but really adds warmth. I also think it will be good on a long cold airplane flight when the shak isn't enough. Again, its amazing how compact it is in its stuff sack for travel.

Catriona, yes the pants have those straps to adjust, but maybe I didn't do it right, rather than laying smooth it made it bunch in the areas where you adjust it. It is such a lovely piece though, maybe I should ring them up about an exchange order......... Its the only piece I think that is practical for me. The other pants were nice, but the prana pant was way too long and puffy, and I think I ordered the wrong size (M on the size chart but kind of big) but it just seemed way too heavy, its like a fleece attached to a shell, so something very bulky to pack that could only be used under very cold circumstances. The acrtyrex pant struck me as a very expensive hi-tech sweat pant, just not my style. But, you do have me reconsidering the alpstar...........oh the temptation...... I do really like them, and am pretty sure the 6 would work. Do you actually think I will be cold with woolies under a lined wool dress pant on the bottom and my arctyrex shell and layers on top? If so I could always order a midweight base layer to put under the wool pants.

And don't worry, you didn't lead me astray at all. Your suggestions have been very helpful. I think I am more averse to synthetics than you are. I am not fond of fleece. The shebeest wind pro stuff is different (and also available right here on TE!), very high tech and functional, same with goretex, but otherwise I love my natural fibers, wool, down, etc.

[Crankin]

Had to take advantage of the Pi sale... I got my husband a jersey, a Shebeest sweater I'd been looking at for months, and (the best) a pair of Ibex boy shorts underwear. I am tired of having a cold rear when hiking.
It's been warm but raining off and on in San Diego. Took a walk on the pier at Mission Beach and around La Jolla, but no cycling this holiday. We brought hiking stuff, but I don't know if we'll have time. So, I guess this is mostly an eating vacation.
I will be wearing my Shak tonight, though, it's in the 50s.

[Cataboo]

I can't remember if you got your alpstars from backcountry or zappos - but if you got them from backcountry, get on chat or call them and tell them they sent you the wrong size alpstars - they will send you out the right size if you want, but also ask them for a prepaid shipping label because of the mistake... They'll email you one of those and you can return everything you need with that.

The tau are high tech sweat pants, but they're warm & windproof ones.

If you're walking about town, you should be warm enough in woolies & your dress pants. I wouldn't ski in your dress pants though

The patagonia down sweater's are really nice. Patagonia changed their sizing chart a couple of years ago and I don't find that I like their fit as much anymore. I tend to live in their organic cotton t-shirts in the summer. But I'm going to be in Salt Lake City in a month so I can go to the patagonia outlet store!

I do a lot of kayaking, hiking, and skiing in addition to cycling - so I vary what I use depending on activity. Synthetics definitely have their purposes. Down is not something I want while on a kayak camping trip, I need things that will still insulate if they get wet, so I use a primaloft sleeping bags and jackets for that. If I'm climbing on rocks or something like that, I'd really rather abuse something synthetic than my nice wool.

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks Catriona. I never did the live chat before but it worked great. He even emailed me the return label while we were online. So, yeh, I'll get free return shipping and I'll have the size 6's here on wed. I'll wait to be sure I love the 6s before I do the return package, but from the way the 4s and 8s fit I am sure I will. I looked again at the velcro tabs, and I just need to adjust them more carefully. They do seem light and versatile, I was just so upset about the size mixup, and didn't want to start over with another order, etc. So, I'll have one pair of technical casual wool pants. Last year was about outfitting my top half in ibex, this year its my bottom half. But now I am done, really, I am. For me at least, but the saga continues..........

Dear Daugther returned home from seeing her friends, and wool weenies, WHAT HAVE I DONE??? All she asked me to get her was 2 pairs of long johns, and she tried the woolie bottoms on, and asked, can I have MORE? MORE ibex she wants.... She went from having no wool, to having a shak hoodie and 2 woolies overnight, and she wants MORE!!! So tomorrow, we sit down for some TE PIE, and make her another order, this time sent to her at school since she goes back on sunday.

FYI, she also needed to size down on the woolies which is great. She is usually a medium, but took the smalls I originally ordered for me. Just as I had hoped, since I had already worn one pair so couldn't return it anymore. I'll just send the mediums back in my backcountry return.

[Cataboo]

Backcountry, steepandcheap, tramdock, and chainlove have a 100% satisfaction guarantee (as does Altrec.com and rei.com) - so you can basically return anything anytime whether or not you've worn it. I don't abuse it - but when something just doesn't work or gets a hole or fails in some other way, I do return them used. Backcountry sells their returned used stuff on geartrade.com

You've created another ibex monster.

[Triskeliongirl]

Its getting worse, the monster is stealing MY ibex now............ she saw my ibex loppet jersey I bought used from Kathi right here on TE hanging on the drying rack, and while its a small she tried it on and noticed it fit her PERFECTLY. That's OK, even though its a small its the least favorite in my collection since it fits more like a medium, and I'm not thrilled about the color, but to her its the most beautiful jersey she's ever seen........... So, she goes from having no ibex 8 hours ago, to now being the proud owner of 2 woolie bottoms, one hooded shak, and 1 loppett jersey. OH DEAR WHAT HAVE I DONE? I CAN'T AFFORD THIS! SHE CAN'T AFFORD THIS!!! At least she already has a job lined up for after graduation, and maybe this way she'll stop getting sick in Boston. It never occured to me that she was simply freezing.

[Triskeliongirl]

So, the next question is do I show her the medium tau and prana pants? I didn't dare, but maybe she actually NEEDS them. I know they'll fit her........... But is she ready for arc'tyrex yet, I don't know.................Maybe Ibex is enough for one day.

[Cataboo]

Oh well - show her the arc'teryx tomorrow, and then the prana on Friday.

Then it won't all be in one day.

Occasionally, in the SAC forum someone comments that they just bought an X-small arc'teryx jacket for a 12 year old... And I think... if you get arc'teryx at 12, what's left???

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Trisk,
I can't imagine you would ever have the need to wear the WindPro tight under the Alpstar pants. That would be just too damned hot I'd think, especially if you were doing something active outside.
WindPro has a pretty nice fleece lining, though I like wearing UnderArmor tights under them OR Ibex wool tights over them if it's really cold.

I just got the Descente Coldout tights from TE, and they are very sleek and stretchy but have that fleece lining too. VERY warm. They are thin enough and form fitting enough to wear under just about anything, and they are satin-y so you can pull stuff on over them and it slides right on. No ankle zippers either - just very stretchy. I'll think of them like my Underarmor tights but warmer. If I wear those under my WindPro tights I will be virtually bullet proof.

Occasionally, in the SAC forum someone comments that they just bought an X-small arc'teryx jacket for a 12 year old... And I think... if you get arc'teryx at 12, what's left???

I'll tell you what's left....if they start at the top they will work their way in the other direction in order to assert their independence from their roots, and will discover the joys of finding cheap Navy wool p-coats at the Army Navy stores, and cheap wool sweaters at the Salvation army and thrift shops. This is all good. People tend to want to explore the direction they have not been in yet. I grew up in Salvation army wardrobe as a kid and thus have been exploring higher end stuff in my 'old age'.

[Cataboo]

My sister has spoiled my little niece rotten with girly barbie princess, disney princess, painting her nails, etc.

I can't wait my niece to become a tomboy when she rebels during her teenage years.

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks Lisa for answering although I even deleted my post when I realized how silly it would be after trying them on this morning!

So, DD woke up, after spending the night in her woolie bottoms and loppet jersey, and is now the proud owner of a pair of arc'tyrex tau pants (thank goodness I got them for 50% off at backcountry outlet), and my old columbia 3 in 1 parka. When I showed her the pant, again her eyes lit up, and she said I would soooooooooo wear those hiking......... So, thanks again Catriona for another great suggestion!

The columbia parka has a very nice omnitech shell that she can wear with or without the zip in fleece. I loved this jacket, but its an M and just hangs on me after losing weight. We decided to stop there since she too is still slimming down. But she arrived here in baggy old clothes, and will leave with 2 woolie bottoms, a loppet jersey, a hooded shak, a patagonia down vest, and a columbia parka. Not a bad haul for thanksgiving weekend!

[Crankin]

I just came home from a 3.5 mile walk in 30 degree sleet. I tested out my new Ibex boxers under my Ibex tights. Perfect! I never could keep my azz warm when it was still too warm for long underwear. I might get another pair. I think I could take a medium, though. They fit, but my cyclist thighs are just popping out all over. Not attractive, but hey, who will see? The rear fits well, though.
When I came back, I realized that I was entirely dressed in wool, except my bra: Besides the 2 Ibex bottoms, smart wool ski socks and micro weight base layer, Icebreaker half zip, and wool hat from EMS. Well, I did have a Craft rain jacket on. I never wear it cycling because it just gets too hot. It was perfect for today.